L E T T E R S

542Letter Nr. 133[To Leo Walter]Paris, September 19, 1837Dear Mr. Leo! 638You receive this letter from an unexpected correspondent. However, I trustin your kind and friendly heart that, once you have glanced at the signature, youwill remember me.The sad solution to this puzzle, and the reason for my correspondence inthis: on Saturday, the 9 thof this month, Philip 639 was injured badly by anunfortunate accident, an explosion in his chemical laboratory. His hands and hiswhole face are wrapped in bandages, and he has little yision in his eyes. ThankGod that, though his injuries are horrible to behold, they do not threaten to cripplehim permanently; there is hope that he will be completely healed. I have hopethat, under the doctor’s watchful care, he will soon completely healed. At the timeof this unfortunate accident, I was about 30 lieues 640 from Paris. Your letter, andthat of your dear father, came shortly after. Phillip could not read it himself; and,since he did not want anyone else to read it, he waited for my return. I returnedonly yesterday, Monday, September 19 th . This explains why you and your fatherhad to wait until today, the 20 th , to receive this late response. Phillip is here at myside in an arm-chair, his whole head wrapped in bandages, and his arms coveredwith cloths, and he is beginning to dictate to me.Do does not want to dictate word for word; instead, he was simply told mewhat he wants me to write. First then, with regard to the reports from the CentralSchool of Arts and Crafts 641 which your dear father requested: You should knowthat Phillip is director of the laboratory and of chemical procedures, but he has bot638 Leo Walter - a doctor, and the son of merchant in Cracow.639 Phillip Walter - mentioned previously as a Polish chemist, the brother of Leo.640 About 30 miles from Paris, at Saint-Acheul, near Amiens.641 A college in Paris.